Cutter tool

ABSTRACT

A cutter tool for forming sockets in the skin of the scalp of a person with ease and precision. The tool may be produced at a reasonable cost so that the tool can be discarded after a single operation. The tool comprises an elongated handle cylindrical in cross section, with a detachable tubular head open at both ends, with a knife edge at one end. The head is formed with guide slots and bleed holes.

United States Patent 2,505,358 4/l950 Gusberg et al 128/2 FOREIGNPATENTS 280,1 76 12/1930 ltaly 128/305 Primary Examiner-L. W TrappAtl0rneyPolachek & Saulsbury ABSTRACT: A cutter tool for fomiirugsockets in the skin of the scalp of a person with ease and precision.The tool may be produced at a reasonable cost so that the tool can bediscarded after a single operation. The tool comprises an elongatedhandle cylindrical in cross section, with a detachable tubular head openat both ends, with a knife edge at one end. The head is formed withguide slots and bleed holes.

PATENIED FEB 19 1971 INVENTOR. FRHNK H'BELLH/vro/v/ CUTTER TOOL I Thisinvention relates generally to the art of transplanting hair from anarea on a persons scalp having hair'toa area on the scalp without hairor an area that is bald. In particular, the invention relatesto a toolor punch having a circular knife edge for boring out plugs of bald scalpinto which grafts of hair will be placed.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a punching tool of thecharacter described which is relativelyJsimple in construction, strongand durable, compaq of light weight and which may be produced at areasonable cost to permit to be discarded after a single operation.Other Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentand reside in the details of construction and operation as more runyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing forming a part hereof. f

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING of the FIG. 6 is aperspective view of a punching tool embodying a modified form of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Referring to the drawingsindetail,it will be seen that the embodiment of the punch or cutterwhich'has beenillustrated in FIG. 1 is designated generally at 10 and iscomposed of suitable metal. The punch or cutter 10 comprises anelongated handle 12 and a removable cutter head 14. v g

The handle 12 has an elongated cylindrical solid body with a transversehole at one end thereof in which is positioned a pin 18 projecting onboth sides of the body. An annular groove 16 is formed in the bodyadjacent the perforated end thereof. I

The cutter head 14 has a tubular body 22 formed with a tapered end 24terminating in a knife edge 26. Opposed bleed holes 32 are formed in thebody midway the ends thereof, and opposed slots are formed 'in the otherend intersecting said end. The body is rolled to form an interiorannular bead 28 across the slotted end thereof.

In assembling, the cutter head 14 is slid over the perforated end of thehandle I2 with its opposed slots 30 in line with the projecting ends ofthe pin 18 so that the edges of the slots interlock with the pin and theprojecting ends of the pinserve as guides and prevent the head fromturning. The annular bead 28 on the head snaps into the annular groove16 in the handle 12 thereby releasably holding the head on the handle.

In operation, the bald area of the'head into which hair will be grafted,and the area of the head from which the hair follicles will be taken areboth anaesthetized by the injection of a local anesthetic The punch orcutter I0 is approximately fivethirty seconds of an inch in diameter.The punch or cutter is then used to cut out plugs in the bald portion ofthe scalp leaving sockets. The same punch or cutter 10 is then used tocut out or bore out hair-bearing plugs from the portion of the scalpbearing hair. The hair-bearing plugs are removed from the scalp and thehair trimmed to proper length. The prepared hair-bearing plugs areplaced in the" punched-out sockets on the bald scalp, where they areheld in place by congealed blood. After bleeding has ceased, the punchedareas of the scalp are dressed or bandaged appropriately.

In FIG. 6, a modified form of tool 10 is illustrated consisting of anelongated handle 12' and cutter head 14 and a plug remover indicatedgenerally at-34. The handle is fonned with an elongated corrugatedsleeve 36 at its outer end to facilitate handling. The cutter head 14'IS shown as fixed on the other end of the handle by means of a screw 36extending through a threaded transverse hole (not shown.) at said otherend. The cutter head 14 is formed with the bleed holes 32' and the knifeedge 26 similar to the cutter head 14. The interlocking bead and theannular groove however are missing from cutter head 14. j

The plug remover 34 comprises a corrugated sleeve 38 slid over theperforated end of the handle 12' to a position intermediate the ends ofthe handle. A pair of opposed spring anns 40,40 is carried by the sleeve38, one end of the arms anchored in the end edge of the sleeve with thearms extending alongside the body of the handle and terminating at theouter free ends thereof in inwardly turned pointed prongs 42,42 adaptedto snap under the hair-bearing plugs after the plugs are cut whereuponoutwardly movement of the punch or cutter removes the plug.

I claim:

. l. A cutter tool for forming removable plugs and sockets in the skinof the scalp ofa person, said tool comprising an elongated solidcylindrical handle, a tubular cutting head on one end of the handle andmeans for securing the head on the handle, said cutter head having atapered portion at one end thereof terminating in a circular knife edge,said means for securing the head on the handle including an annulargroove in the body of the handle adjacent one end thereof and an annularbead on the interior of the tubular cutting head adjacent it inner endand adapted to snap into the groove upon as sembly.

2. A cutter tool for forming removable plugs and sockets in the skin ofthe scalp of a person as defined in-claim l, a transverse pin fixed onthe handle below the annular groove thereof and with its ends projectingoutwardly from the opposite sides thereof, said cutter head havingopposed slots intersecting one end and the annular bead thereof adaptedto coact with the projecting ends of the pin for assembling the cutterhead on the handle and for preventing the cutter head from turningthereon. I

3.. A cutter tool for forming removable plugs and sockets in the skin ofthe scalp of a person, said. tool comprising an elongated solidcylindrical handle, a tubular cutting head on one end of the handle andmeans for securing the head on the handle, said cutter head having atapered portion at one end thereof terminating in a circular knife edge,and a device for removing a plug of skin cut from the scalp, said deviceincluding a sleeve slidably mounted on the handle, and opposed elongatedspring arms carried by the sleeve extending along the body of thehandle, and opposed inwardly extending prongs on the free ends of thearms adapted to snap into the under surface of the cut plug in the scalpwhereby longitudinal movement of the cutter tool removes the cut plugfrom the Scalp.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 98,735,involving Patent No. 3,561349, F. A. Bellant/entee was rendered toni,CUTTER TOOL, final judgment adverse to the pa.

July 22, 1977, as to claims 1, 2 and 3.

[Ofiicial Gazette December 20, 1.977.]

1. A cutter tool for forming removable plugs and sockets in the skin ofthe scalp of a person, said tool comprising an elongated solidcylindrical handle, a tubular cutting head on one end of the handle andmeans for securing the head on the handle, said cutter head having atapered portion at one end thereof terminating in a circular knife edge,said means for securing the head on the handle including an annulargroove in the body of the handle adjacent one end thereof and an annularbead on the interior of the tubular cutting head adjacent it inner endand adapted to snap into the groove upon assembly.
 2. A cutter tool forforming removable plugs and sockets in the skin of the scalp of a personas defined in claim 1, a transverse pin fixed on the handle below theannular groove thereof and with its ends projecting outwardly from theopposite sides thereof, said cutter head having opposed slotsintersecting one end and the annular bead thereof adapted to coact withthe projecting ends of the pin for assembling the cutter head on thehandle and for preventing the cutter head from turning thereon.
 3. Acutter tool for forming removable plugs and sockets in the skin of thescalp of a person, said tool comprising an elongated solid cylindricalhandle, a tubular cutting head on one end of the handle and means forsecuring the head on the handle, said cutter head having a taperedportion at one end thereof terminating in a circular knife edge, and adevice for removing a plug of skin cut from the scalp, said deviceincluding a sleeve slidably mounted on the handle, and opposed elongatedspring arms carried by the sleeve extending along the body of thehandle, and opposed inwardly extending prongs on the free ends of thearms adapted to snap into the under surface of the cut plug in the scalpwhereby longitudinal movement of the cutter tool removes the cut plugfrom the scalp.